Global Surf Project: Chile

1. Global Surf Project: Chile • By Elizabeth Kilcourse & Laura Markey

2. Surfing in Chile • Chile has quality wave breaks. • There is over 2700 miles of coastline. • The beaches are uncroweded, and multiple types of surf breaks can be found. • The water is cold all year. • Chile can be divided into three zones: North, Central, and Southern.

3. Northern Chile Surf Zone • There is an abundance of reef, rock, and point breaks in Northern Chile. • The best time of year to surf here is from September-November, because of consistent south swells. • During the summer months there are consistent swells from the North, causing stronger and harsher waves. • The North is the warmest of the three regions.

4. El Gringo • Located in Tarapaca, Chile. • El Gringo is an expert spot in the Northern zone of Chile. • Also known as the Chilean pipeline.

5. Surfing El Gringo • Video

6. Central Chile Surf Zone • This region has the capitol city of Santiago which has a population of about 10 million. • Because of that, this zone has the largest surf population in Chile. • The surf is very consistent here. • The water temperature is cooler than that of the Northern region. • Pichilemu is considered Chile’s Surf City, which contains many surf shops and other surf related things.

7. Punta De Los Lobos • Known as the crown jewel among the central region. Located in Santiago. • There are exposed reefs and point breaks. • It is best to surf during the winter here. • Ideal winds are from theeast and south east • Clean groundswells, and southwest swell angles. • This area can get busy in the water. Surfers must be aware of urchins, rips, and rocks

8. Punta De Los Lobos • Video 2

9. Southern Chile Surf Zone • Long empty beaches with big waves, ideal for the pioneer surfer. • Most remote region of all Chile. Waves are enourmous here compared to the other regions • The snowcapped Andes are always visible here while surfing. • The population is very small and spread out among ancient fishing villages and pastoral ranches. • The water is cold here, ranging from 55 to 61 degrees farenheit. • Consistent southerly winds, winds shift to the north during their winter months of May to July • Far from tourist areas, won’t be able to find modern surf shops.

10. El Puerto Maguillines • Best surf spot in the Southern Region • Located in Atacama, Chile • waves range from 4-10 feet on average • there is an ideal swell for surfers 96% of the time • It is a left ride with a rock break • Length of ride is about 50-100 meters

11. El Puerto Maguillines • Video 3

12. Chile Facts • Frigid waters all year due to the Humbolt current • Location: Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean and South Pacific Ocean, between Argentina and PeruGeographic coordinates: 30 00 S, 71 00 WCoastline: 6,435 kmTerrain: low coastal mountains; fertile central valley; rugged Andes in eastNatural hazards: severe earthquakes; active volcanism; tsunamis • The north is characterized by arid and dry conditions. The central region of Chile has a Mediterranean climate with mild wet winters and long dry summers, and the south is cold and wet with prevailing winds of gale intensity. • Rainfall increases from almost nothing in the Atacama Desert in the north to 5,080 mm (200 inches) in the south.

13. Animal Life • Animal migration is restricted by the Andes mountains being a barrier to them, and the northern desert being an obstacle to the southward migration of tropical Andean fauna. • The most abundant animal are the rodents. Some include- chinchilla, the dengu, the mountain viscacha (those 3 farmed for their furs), the monito de monte, and the nutria, or coyupu ( a water rodent common in streams. • There are an abundance of deer, llamas, alpacas and vicuña (used for their high-quality wool). • There are few carnivores- Pumas, Andean Wolves, Long-tailed Fox.

14. Animal Life • Some exotic birds like parrots and flamingos appear over northern and central Chile during migration periods. • The Condor lives throughout the Chilean Andes, a large scavenger. In Patagonia the carancha is a bird that attacks lambs. • There are many amphibians, the most known being the Darwin’s frog, discovered by Charles Darwin in south central Chile. • Chile’s geographic isolation accounts for the absence of poisonous reptiles and spiders.

15. Travel Information • A roundtrip plane ticket to Santiago, is about $1300-1500 for a week in November • You will need a 4/3mm wetsuit with booties and a hood, and how ever many surfboards you would like to bring • If you’re on a budget a hostel would be your best place to stay, there are many offered for surfers.

16. Chile Culture • Currency: Chilean peso (CLP) • People in Chile speak spanish. • Dance and music are very important to this culture. • Pickpocketing and mugging are on the increase and travelers should take care of their belongings, especially around tourist areas and bus stations. • Also, avoid walking alone late at night. • Chile is known to have a land mine problem

17. Sources • http://www.wannasurf.com/spot/South_America/Chile/Tarapaca/el_gringo/ • http://www.thesurfingsite.com/Surf-Spots-Chile.html • http://ns.surfertoday.com/bodyboarding/5556-el-gringo-waits-for-the-best-pro-bodyboarders • http://www.surfingatlas.com/spot/2232 • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7F1IXoAjtE&feature=player_embedded#! • http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/111326/Chile/24682/Plant-and-animal-life

18. Sources Continued • http://www.surf-forecast.com/breaks/Puntade-Lobos • http://magicseaweed.com/Chile-South-Surf-Forecast/34/ • http://www.wannasurf.com/spot/South_America/Chile/ • http://www.globalsurfers.com/country_details.cfm?land=Chile • http://traveltips.usatoday.com/surfing-chile-18186.html • http://www.surf-forecast.com/breaks/El-Puerto/reliability_by_month • http://www.globalsurfers.com/spot.cfm?land=Chile&surfing=4138&travel=Puerto%20maguillines